The trend estimate for total new motor vehicle registrations has continued to rise in each of the seven months since May 2001. The December 2001 estimate is 0.5% higher than that for November 2001. Passenger vehicles rose by 0.5% and other vehicles rose by 0.6%.

TAKE CARE!

Trend estimates are revised as new monthly data become available.

SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ESTIMATES

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total new motor vehicle registrations fell by 2.2% in December 2001 compared with the previous month. The estimates show rises in Victoria, Western Australia and Tasmania, no change in the Northern Territory, and falls in the other States and the Australian Capital Territory.

ORIGINAL ESTIMATES

Total new motor vehicle registrations fell by 6.0% in December 2001 compared with the previous month. Rises were recorded in Western Australia and Tasmania while falls were recorded in the other States and the two Territories. Passenger vehicles fell by 5.3% and other vehicles fell by 9.4% compared with November 2001.

NOTES

FINAL ISSUE

This is the final issue of this publication. The ABS has discontinued the collection of new motor vehicle registrations data from the motor vehicle registration authorities in the States and Territories. From the January 2002 reference month, the ABS will publish statistics on sales of new motor vehicles. The sales statistics will be based on data produced by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries which the ABS will seasonally adjust and trend. The monthly statistics will be available electronically in Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Electronic Publication (Cat. no. 9314.0.80.001), with time series data from January 1994 available in Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Electronic Delivery (Cat. no. 9314.0.55.001). Monthly data will also be available in Australian Economic Indicators (Cat. no. 1350.0). More detail about the future role of the ABS in providing vehicle statistics is contained in Information Paper: Developments in New Motor Vehicle Statistics (Cat. no. 9313.0). A copy of this paper is available from the ABS website (www.abs.gov.au). For more information contact Kevin Yeadon by telephone on (02) 6252 6255 or by email at k.yeadon@abs.gov.au.

CHANGES IN THIS ISSUE

There are no changes in this issue.

VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS BY TYPE: Trend series(a)

Passenger Vehicles

Other Vehicles

Total Vehicles(excluding motor cycles)

(a) A break in the trend series occurred between June and July 2000 as a result of changed behaviour arising from the introduction of the New Tax System.